In search of an upscale New American spot?
Hoodline crunched the numbers to find the best high-end New American restaurants around Cleveland, using both Yelp data and our own secret sauce to produce a ranked list of the best spots for lobster, foie gras and more.
1. Lola
Topping the list is Lola, celebrity chef Michael Symon's flagship restaurant. Located downtown at 2058 E. Fourth St., it is the highest rated upscale New American restaurant in Cleveland, boasting four stars out of 938 reviews on Yelp.
Open since 1997, the fine-dining restaurant has earned numerous awards over the years — from Zagat, the James Beard Foundation and others — and was recently named the best downtown restaurant by Cleveland Magazine.
On the menu, look for the bone marrow and calves' heart appetizers, smoked pork chop, bacon-wrapped sturgeon and the cheesy polenta with mascarpone and honey. Create the perfect pairing with one of the dozens of global wines.
2. Dante
Next up is Tremont's Dante, Michelin-starred chef Dante Boccuzzi's signature restaurant. With four stars out of 276 reviews on Yelp, the New American and Italian restaurant at 2247 Professor Ave. has proved to be a local favorite for those looking to indulge.
Dante's menu changes with the seasons and features à la carte options and chef-prepared tasting menus with five or seven courses. Standout items include saffron-poached scallops, Hudson Valley foie gras with banana bread and chocolate hazelnut sauce, handmade pastas and a duo of roasted pork tenderloin and shoulder.
3. Fahrenheit
Another Tremont favorite, Fahrenheit serves contemporary American cuisine with an Asian twist and is helmed by chef Rocco Whalen. Yelpers give the fancy cocktail bar and restaurant at 2417 Professor Ave. four stars out of 262 reviews.
The menu is refreshed every four to six weeks with many of the ingredients coming from Northeast Ohio farms, Fahrenheit says on its website. There are six menus available with one dedicated to vegan fare and another featuring brunch favorites.
On the main menu, start off with black truffle meatballs or the harvest pear salad and move on to the butter-poached Maine lobster, swordfish with clams or the freshly baked pizza topped with Kobe short ribs, figs, kale and goat cheese.
4. Fire
Finally, there's Fire, another pricey go-to located in the historic Shaker Square. With four stars out of 235 Yelp reviews, the New American restaurant at 13220 Shaker Square serves local and sustainable cuisine.
Starters include chickpea fritters and crispy chicken livers with bacon or you can build your own charcuterie board with a selection of farmstead cheeses and artisanal meats. For dinner, try the New England scallops with spring pea puree, Angus ribeye with roasted onion steak sauce or the whole rainbow trout served with creamy leeks.
